Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-03

! country winch IL lntenSlned are 1actS
which ought never to he forgotten. The
sacrifices that were made that the cOun
/ try might be saved, the deeds of heroic
courage that were performed 10y the OIL
! GERS and men of our great armies, their
| bravery on the field aud their patience in
the hospital and in the horrid prison pens
of the South-these must never be per-
! mitted to fade from the memory of our
! people.
While we mourn those who sacrificed
their lives in the terrible struggle for the
/ overthrow of armed rebellion and the
preservation of the Union, we will not
! forget to honor the veterans of the Grand
Army OF the Republic who still survive,
/ They were AS brave as the bravest of
| those who fell and deserve the gratitude
and love of all their countrymen. They
were .graciously protected by kind
/ providence and permitted to return, to
! their homes and loved ones bearing the
laurel of victory. Many of them returned,
not rs they went away in fun
health and vigor but broken with
disease aud bearing the scars of heroic ser
| vice a few of them are here today and
some of them still bear the marks of ter
rible battle, in their disfigured forms,
empty sleeves and hating step. Fellow
| citizens, look on these noble men: see in
| them the saviorS OF your country and give
them your undylng gratitude and love
| The ranks of the Grand Army of veterans
are being thinned as the years 90 by and
each returning Memorial Day points to
| new graves to be adorned Two of the
bravest leaders in the field and most hon
| ored members of the Grand Army of the
| Republlc, Stannard and Logan, have sur
rendered to death since on this day, year
| ago, you stood by the graves of your com
rades to honor their memory. Or your
own Stannard, whose home was in this
city for many years and who enlisted in
the service of his country from a neighbor-
ing town, need say but little. His hon.
orable and successful career as a soldier
Is more familiar to those who com pose
| TINS assembly than it Is to me, as it was
not my privilege to know him personally.
! have read something, however, of his
brilliant record in the army at the head of
the sturdy Vermont boys whose good for
tune it was to be under his command, and
must be permitted to pay slight tribute
to his memory. Entering the service early
in the war he soon took rank as wise and
able counsellor and brave and sagacious
commander He made himself specially
conspicuous at the battle of Gettysburg
and won for himself unlading laurels on
that holly contested field. Joining Rey-
nolds's corps at the close of the first days
and at once placed in posi-.
ton of great responsibility, the gal
liant Reynolds having fallen on the
field Called with his brigade to hold a
portion of the front line on the third and
great day of the battle he proved himself
equal to the responsibility. His com
mand was the first TO meet the final great
assault of the enemy toward the close of
+ the day and subsequently Stannard
= threw his men upon the flank of Pick
: etts division as it rushed upon the guns
/, of the Second corps. This movement was
decisive of the result of that tremendous
/ rebel assault, upon the fate of which the
final issue of the battle turned. The right
OF the rebel line melted away under the
deadly fire of the intrepid Nermonters,
delivered at half-pistol range. Stannard
was painfully wounded, but refused to
{ leave his command though urged to do SO
by the division commander. He greatly
{ distinguished himself by his GOODNESS and
, personal bravery throughout the entire
E three days battle. No troops of Gen.
9 Meade's army were Steadier under ire
. mendous artillery fre-did more impor-
: tant work with greater promptness or
took more prisoners than did the Yer
r mont brigade. Al honor to these noble
q men and to their gallant commander who
= now sleeps his last, long sleep under the
Q flowers you have this day heaped upon
his grave
5 John A. Logan won for himself an en-
n viable reputation both as general and a
t statesman and died lamented by his
= countrymen everywhere. He was a
E man of intense convictions and thorough
q ly devoted to what he considered
e the best interests of his country.
III lcOu lie SJuIlptu llllUOlS lOT
. Douglas against Lincoln but de
j. clared with emphasis that if Lin
i coin was elected he would shoulder
his musket to have him inaugurated. He
, did shoulder his musket aud enter the
\ army as Il private. From this humble
/ position he rose to be major-general of
r volunteers, and many military men, best
, qualified to judge, say that he was the
r best volunteer general that the war pro
: duced. In 1862 he wrote; Il have en-
T. tered the field to die, if need be- for this
I government, and never expect To return
. to peaceful pursuits until the object of
: this war of preservation has become a
/ fact established" He continued in the
service till the war was over and the
> great principles for which he fought were
e triumphantly indicated. AS member OF
/ Congress and atterWard as United States
senator he championed the cause of
8 the soldiers and did more, perhaps, than
y any other one man toward securing for
. the deserving veterans such pensions from
: the government as wounds and disease
q entitled them to receive. His brilliant
q career is now over and his useful life
\ terminated, but the memory of his noble
p character and valient deeds shall never
a fade from the minds of men.
, You would hardly forgive me were | to
: close this address without making honor
f able mention of your fellow citizen and
Y comrade, j. A. Stone, who, though severe
r ly wounded in the service, survived the
q fiery ordeal of many battle to perish a
|, few months ago in the fire of a railway
train which had been hurled into an awful
$ chasm. Serving his country faithfully
\ in the time of its great peril and helping
@ to crush secession and conquer rebel
@ lion and perpetuate the union OF the States
t his memory shall be gratefully cherished.
q During the past year many hundreds OF
i those who fought for the Union in the
e war with the South have gone to their
q eternal rest and today sleep peacefully
q with the great company of their comrades
;. who preceded them to the shelter of
G Those low green tents
= Whose curtains never outward swing"
|, They are gone The nation mourns it,
e loss. We gratefully commemorate theiI
T. deeds of valor and patriotism; we Will
e hand down to our children, and to oul
+ children's children, the record of theiI
o noble service and thus perpetuate theil
g fame throughout all coming time.
5 ION Fame's eternal camping ground
S Their silent tents are spread
\ And glory guaI DIS with solemn round